any one with non hodgkins lymphoma experience - Lymphomas Message Board

annaech · 07-15-2004, 01:22 AM

My father in law he's 60 yrs old and was diagnosed after having the side of his neck puffed out and very large. It has gone down but he's only had about three chemo sessions and he has lost a lot of weight in a short time and has had transfusions of all kinds and now is on isolation with chicken pox, a skin infection and some infection of the blood. He's now on new antibiotics that took away a persistent fever he was having. I have not spoken to the doctors this is the translation from the family members who are just learning medical terms. The thing is we suspect that he is depressed because although the cancer and treatment may be responsible for his loss of appetite and weight we are very concerned and shocked by his appearance which can be best described as skin and bones. The frustrating part is that he doesn't want to eat and alot of cohersion and patience goes into getting him to eat just a little bit. If he has what adds up to just a small meal a day that is a good day. He wont drink the prosure cans that are packed with calories and vitamins. What we are wondering is if this is a normal part of the cancer experience and how much more can he waste away before the doctors get concerned. He also doesn't want to get up out of bed and he's been hospitlized for quite some time. They have him in isolation now. He's developed pneumonia. We, the family think that at the rate he's going it may not be the cancer that might kill him but the treatment side effects and malnourishment. Any insight will be appreciated, thank you in advance.

Marimac · 07-15-2004, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annaech

My father in law he's 60 yrs old and was diagnosed after having the side of his neck puffed out and very large. It has gone down but he's only had about three chemo sessions and he has lost a lot of weight in a short time and has had transfusions of all kinds and now is on isolation with chicken pox, a skin infection and some infection of the blood. He's now on new antibiotics that took away a persistent fever he was having. I have not spoken to the doctors this is the translation from the family members who are just learning medical terms. The thing is we suspect that he is depressed because although the cancer and treatment may be responsible for his loss of appetite and weight we are very concerned and shocked by his appearance which can be best described as skin and bones. The frustrating part is that he doesn't want to eat and alot of cohersion and patience goes into getting him to eat just a little bit. If he has what adds up to just a small meal a day that is a good day. He wont drink the prosure cans that are packed with calories and vitamins. What we are wondering is if this is a normal part of the cancer experience and how much more can he waste away before the doctors get concerned. He also doesn't want to get up out of bed and he's been hospitlized for quite some time. They have him in isolation now. He's developed pneumonia. We, the family think that at the rate he's going it may not be the cancer that might kill him but the treatment side effects and malnourishment. Any insight will be appreciated, thank you in advance.

Part of the side effects of chemo is depression, the malnutrition can cause depression, the entire picture you are painting is the horror of cancer. I wish the best for your father-in-law and family. Hopefully he will begin to feel better soon and some of these side effects will be corrected. There is no sure way of telling from your description what can be done for him, but some one needs to advocate for his overall well-being.

annaech · 07-16-2004, 05:45 AM

His birthday was yesterday and he couldn't eat his own cake. He's in ICU now with a fever that wont go away and they don't know where the infection is. He's had so many different antibiotics and still the fever wont budge. They say he has a blood clot in his lung, they are running more tests. He has to be the skinniest person there, it is so scary since only two months ago he was talkative and up and about, sixty pounds heavier.

JenBrooke123 · 07-16-2004, 08:42 AM

Cancer affects people in different ways. My mom had non- hodgkins, and she happend to handle chemo pretty well. Her appatite did not change at all. she went into remission for 5 years and then recently it came back. She was then put on a series of shots, and that seemed to put her in remission. I would ask the doctors more questions. Your father needs to eat so he can build strength to fight off infections better. I hope they at least have him on IV's. I would talk to the doctors more, how can he possibly fight of his infections when he is not eating at all. Maybe they will have some ideas of getting him to feel better.

annaech · 07-16-2004, 11:06 AM

Thank you so much for both of your responses. For those of you whose family members or yourselves had a big problem with nausea, is it really that bad that you can't force little bits throughout the day just for the sake of living? Once again we don't know if it's the depression or that the nausea is really that bad, as is the only excuse that my father in law gives, and that he doesn't like the taste of prosure. I'm wondering should we tackle it with the anti nausea meds and administer them in a special way so that by the time he does try to eat they have kicked in and will work or should we get a psychiatrist and will that gives us enough time to change things around. Antidepressants take weeks to work. Yes, he's on IV's. His family and his son (my husband) is so torn by this situation.